The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-05-26
The Test.


since she came from the boarding
school in Philadelphia to preside over
her fathers house with pretty airs Of
control which Mrs. Wells, the actual
housekeeper. never resented or contra
tlicted. Her beauty was of the ex-
quisitely delicate type peculiar to
American girls OF the refined. educat-
ed class arstocracy OF this demo-
crate land. Her hair OF golden brown
covered her tall. slender figure like
veil in fine threads Of richest gold.
Her eyes were deep hazel. shaded by
long, golden brown laShes. and her
features were cut as clearly and regu-
larry as fine cameo. Hands and feet
were small and slender, not thin, for her
whole figure was gracefully rounded.
But her greatest perfection was skin
as fair. soft and spotless rs that Of
miniature painting.
When the good minister christened
her he gave her the far from musical
name of Mary Jane. and Mary Jane
Trask was certainly her proper cogno-
men. But she was May from baby;
May in school, May at home. and
when. ut eighteen, she came home
for good" with the honorS of the
seminary embodied in her diploma,
there was probably not six people in
Wildhaven who knew her name was
actually Mary Jane.
She reigned in the village by right OF
aer lovely face her kind heart, her
city accomplishments and her fathers
position, for old DR.. Tr;,sk was one of
the grandees of the place, though his
worldly means would probably sound
very small if named in dollars and
cents in Wall street.
Nobody wondered when Mr.. Pendle-
ton, the great city artist, came to
Wildh.,yen for the summer that he re-
uuested the doctor to allow him to take
Miss Mays portrait. to introduce into
scene he was pa nt:ng of spring.
In his hands the well-worn subject
became Il marvel of fresh creations,
and when he had made his many
sketches from nature he set up great
easel aud canvas. b. Mays permission.
in a large, empty room at the doctor s.
and began his painting in good earnest
He had brought letters to DR.. Trask
from some old city friends, and in
Wildhaven the proprietors were not
iron fences against friendly intercourse.
Young girls were supposed to be
sufficiently guarded from insult or mis-
construction by their own innate purity
and modesty, and when May stood for
her picture in the great empty room
nobodys hands were raised in horror
because no matron sat beside her. Her
dress for these occasions was OF thin
floating muslin, cut to show her round
shoulders and arms, and her waving
golden hair fell unbound around her.
Upon her dress and in the hair were
scattered delicate spring blossoms, and
the small hands carried long sprays OF
tender green leaves.
But once dressed and in position,
Mark Pendleton desired his fair model
to iorget that she was sitting for pc
ture, and exerted every charm OF his
wonderful powers of conversation for
that purpose. And Nav listened and
answered, modestly and intelligently,
till she would grow interested in her
subjects, when her large eyes would di-
late with feeling. her cheeks flush to
delicate rose tints and her face intensi-
fy its own beauty, till the artist sighed
to think how poorly paint and pencil
could reproduce the exquisite face he
copied.
He was somewhat older than May.
Ibis great artist, who had seen Europe
an cities and all the natural scenery OF
note in his own land. who had read and
thought so much, and whose pictures
commanded such high prices. but his
heart was fresh and youthful as boy s.,
and his love of beauty an undying
source of delight to him.
He had tail figure and fine face,
with large, dark, soul-iit eyes, and May
thought him as handsome as he thought
her, Which is saying great DEAL She
felt proud if she could contribute any
thing to his gEeat picture, and would
flush with pleasure when he asked her
to sing as he worked ITO inspire his
hand delighted to pour forth her
clear. sweet soprano in his favor:te
songs, and see his face kindle to enthu'
siasm at the sounds.
So they gave heart for heart in the
long summer days, often forgetting
even the picture and each others faces,
az they interchanged the deeper soul
talk that draws true love in the strong
est bonds. The worldly-wise man. the
pet of the great city, the artist whose
name was well-known one through
out the land, gave his heart 1.-THE gen
tie, sweet girl, who thought HEAVIER
was opened for her as she knew the
gift was hers.
DR.. Trask gave his consent signing
a LITTLE at the prospect of losing his
child, and somewhat consoled by the
princely gift of the large painting Of
Spring, where May, with fiower-laden
put-stretched hands, seemed advancing
from the depth of forest glade to mee
aim
The wedding day was fixed for DC,
tober, and Mark Pendleton returned tt
Philadelphia to prepare home for bis
bride. 1t was August when he ief
Wildhayen, and May had great piles o.
sewing to accomplish, but her lovers
parting words were:
don't work too hard. my darling
IVAN my little wife's face AZ fair az
spring itself when l come to CLAIM
her."